Bhubaneswar: Italian national Paolo Bosusco was on Thursday finally released by the Maoists in Odisha after spending a month in captivity. The government agreed to release 27 prisoners including 15 Maoists.
After getting released, Italian tourist Paolo Bosusco said, "I am a free man again. I always try to get my freedom, so let's see the future. It was a unique experience of course, staying with them for such a long time. I have to learn lots of things, we can learn from everybody and they are human beings like any other human being so there is always something to learn."
Bosusco's freedom has been secured at a heavy price with the government agreeing to release 27 prisoners, which includes 15 members of the Chasi Muliya Adivasi Sangha, eight hardcore Maoists and four aides of Sabyasachi Panda.
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said, "As you all are aware, Maoist released the second Italian hostage. I just had a word with Italian ambassador and we handed over the Italian. I request Maoist to release the abducted MLA as soon as possible."
While the Naxals handed over Bosusco to negotiator Dandapani Mohanty, Jhina Hikaka, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MLA, is still in Naxal custody.
In addition to the release of prisoners demanded by Panda, the government will now have to content demands of the Odisha Andhra Border Zonal Committee for the MLA's release.
The rival group has demanded that five of their sympathisers be released, including hardcore Maoist Ghasi. The government says it is examining the legalities. But one thing is clear, repeated hostage crises have exposed the Odisha government's political vulnerability.
Comments
0 comment